The multifamily industry enters 2026 with new developments in technology, rising resident expectations, and shifts in day-to-day operations. For employers, the priority is understanding how these changes influence staffing needs. Below are the major trends shaping 2026 and what property management leaders should prepare for.
Key Trends Shaping Multifamily Staffing in 2026
Here are the trends that will influence multifamily operations, resident experience, and staffing strategies in the year ahead.
1. Rising Digital Expectations Increase Training Needs
Digital service is now the standard. In 2025, 99 percent of owners said they prefer online interactions for payments, maintenance requests, messages, leasing, and document sharing. Digital platforms are no longer optional in property management.¹
Teams need ongoing training to use these systems confidently and support a smooth resident experience.
Staffing impact: employers may need stronger onboarding and regular skills training to help leasing and management staff stay current with evolving digital tools.
2. AI Adoption Creates New Skill Expectations
A 2025 EliseAI study found that 77 percent of operators using AI lowered operating costs, while 85 percent improved lead-to-lease conversions.² At the same time, 78 percent of respondents said they lost business to competitors who already use AI.
AI helps with speed, accuracy, and follow-up, but it also raises the expectations for onsite teams. Staff need to understand AI-supported workflows and use data to support leasing and communication.
Staffing impact: employers will increasingly look for candidates who can adapt to new technology and work comfortably with automated systems.
3. Technology Growth Increases Demand for Initiative and Leadership
The National Apartment Association (NAA) reports that initiative and leadership remain in the top three skills employers prioritize.³ These skills now sit alongside communication and property management experience as top hiring requirements.
As properties adopt more tools and automation, staff must manage tasks independently, solve problems quickly, and stay proactive.
Staffing impact: hiring teams will need to screen for self-directed candidates who can take ownership of operational tasks without constant oversight.
Read more: Spot Top Property Candidates
4. A Tighter Labor Market Raises Competition for Onsite Staff
Yardi Matrix notes that job creation slowed significantly in late 2025.⁴ When fewer workers enter the job market, industries that rely on consistent onsite staffing, including multifamily housing, face tougher competition for qualified talent.
This affects leasing and maintenance roles the most. When staffing remains lean, workloads grow, and response times can slow down.
Staffing impact: employers may need faster hiring processes and support from multifamily recruiters to secure qualified talent before other industries do.
5. Burnout and Turnover Continue to Challenge Teams
The industry’s turnover rates remain high. According to NAA, leasing and maintenance roles experience turnover of more than 30 percent each year.⁵
High workloads, increased digital communication, and rising service expectations contribute to employee fatigue. When experienced staff leave, remaining team members absorb extra responsibilities, which can affect resident satisfaction.
Staffing impact: employers should plan for higher turnover and consider direct hire or temp-to-hire support during peak leasing cycles or busy maintenance seasons.
Read more: How to Prevent Employee Burnout in Property Management
6. Preventive Maintenance Requires Skilled Technicians
A Buildium report found that 56 percent of property owners rely on property management companies primarily for maintenance support.⁶ Preventive maintenance helps reduce emergency calls and improve resident satisfaction, but it requires technicians with the right training and certifications.
Without enough skilled technicians, small problems can escalate and create more demand on on-site staff.
Staffing impact: employers will need maintenance professionals with strong technical skills, reliability, and experience with modern building systems.
7. Growing Screening Workloads Increase Administrative Demands
Buildium also reports that 75 percent of property managers saw more rental fraud last year. This increases the workload for tenant screening, including background checks, income verification, fraud detection, and move-in coordination.
These tasks add pressure to leasing teams already balancing walk-ins, renewals, and resident communication.
Staffing impact: employers may need additional administrative support or cross-trained leasing staff to manage screening demands during peak seasons.
How Employers Can Prepare for 2026
To stay ahead of industry changes, property management companies should focus on three core areas that strengthen team performance and support long-term staffing needs.
1. Build an Agile Workforce
Encourage collaboration and cross-training so team members can shift responsibilities during high-demand periods. Agility helps properties maintain service quality even when workloads change.
2. Use Technology That Improves Efficiency
Adopt tools that reduce manual work, such as digital onboarding, automated scheduling, or real-time reporting. These systems help onsite teams focus on resident interactions and problem-solving instead of repetitive tasks.
3. Support Continuous Learning and Skill Growth
Provide opportunities for training, certifications, and leadership development. Teams that continue learning stay confident with new technology, adapt quickly, and contribute more to long-term performance.
The Liberty Group helps you build the team you need
The Liberty Group has supported multifamily communities across the country since 1977. As a trusted multifamily staffing agency, we help property management companies hire skilled leasing professionals, dependable maintenance technicians, and experienced onsite and corporate staff.
Whether you need temporary support, temp-to-hire solutions, or direct-hire recruitment, our team is here to help you build a strong and future-ready workforce. And if you already have a candidate ready to start, our RapidHire service helps you onboard talent quickly and keep your operations moving without delays.
Reach out today to connect with the multifamily talent you need for 2026 and beyond.
References
1. Young, Robin. The 2025 Property Management Industry Report. Buildium, 2025, https://www.buildium.com/resource/2025-property-management-industry-report/
2. Piwnik, Kuba. “New Report: Nearly All Multifamily Operators Embracing AI as Industry Reaches Transformation Tipping Point.” Business Wire, 8 Oct. 2025, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008355896/en/New-Report-Nearly-All-Multifamily-Operators-Embracing-AI-as-Industry-Reaches-Transformation-Tipping-Point.
3. NAA Research. Apartment Labor Market Dynamics Report: Q2 2025. National Apartment Association, 12 Aug. 2025, https://naahq.org/news/apartment-labor-market-dynamics-report-q2-2025.
4. Adler, Jeff. “Economic Pressures Impacting U.S. Multifamily Market, Yardi Matrix Reports.” Yardi Matrix, 12 Nov. 2025, https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/economic-pressures-impacting-us-multifamily-market/.
5. National Apartment Association. “Employee Engagement.” NAAHQ, naahq.org/employee-engagement, https://naahq.org/employee-engagement#:~:text=The%20rental%20housing%20industry%20has,are%20up%20significantly%20since%202010. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
6. Young, Robin. The 2026 State of the PropertyManagement Industry Report. Buildium, 2025, https://www.buildium.com/resource/2026-property-management-industry-report/.